The Norwegian Nature Index – conceptual framework and methodology

Abstract

The Norwegian Nature Index (NI) is a general, integrated framework developed to synthesize and communicate the current knowledge of the state and development of biodiversity. It is designed to make the most of the available knowledge in the ecological research community, including expert judgment. The authors present the basic concepts and definitions of the NI, the associated quantitative expressions, and the practical implementation of data collection and integration of expert judgment and data on biodiversity in Norway. The NI can be implemented in data-rich and data-poor areas, it contains information on both the state of biodiversity and the state of knowledge, and it can be aggregated or disaggregated to address specific management themes, which gives the framework the potential to become an efficient management tool.

Keywords:

• biological diversity
• composite index
• expert judgment
• indicators